The Eagles Quarterack Controversy

OK Eagles fans.... NOW we have a quarterback controversy to spice up week 2 of the season. Philly sports fans LOVE stuff like this so we can argue, disagree, speculate and call our friends who disagree with us names like "loser" and call up sports radio talk shows and be called names like "nitwit" with hosts who disagree with "Joe from the Northeast." (although he probably IS a nitwit!)

First up on the dais is Donovan McNabb. Even though he didn't practice yesterday, I think Donovan will still start. He's played hurt before, and was probably hurt worse than this, but he's a gamer and will WANT to start even if he isn't physically able. Now, do I WANT him to start? NO!! A rib injury is quite painful and will affect his breathing and stamina and a flak jacket will limit his throwing motion and mobility. It's a non-division game, so why risk it? Even though Carolina looked horrible, the Eagles as a team look pretty darn good. There are back to back non-division home games and then the bye week, so if Donovan is in pain, make him sit the next few weeks and have him strong and healthy for the rest of the season.

Next up on the dais is Kevin Kolb. Most Bird fans disagree with this, but I LIKE Kevin Kolb.

I'm not convinced he's ready to be the every day QB, but this is the guy that Andy Reid has hand picked to be the future signal caller, meaning Reid thinks he has the skill set and ability to run this offense, so HE'S the guy and I want to see what he can do. He's looked pretty good at times, awful at others. Working all week with the first team and going into a game knowing you're the starter is a lot different than coming off the bench in the middle of a game and being thrown into the Lion's den. I want to see Kevin Kolb start a regular season game to see if he IS in fact the guy, or just another of Andy Reid's misjudgement of talent "projects." Most fans have already made up their minds that Kolb stinks, but I disagree. I just haven't seen him in come into a game as the starter, and the Saints will be a good test for him. Let's see what he can do in this game before we vote him off the island.

Next up are Michael Vick and Jeff Garcia. Well, forget about Vick. He can't play this week anyway, and now with a legitimate back-up like Garcia around Vick is now a Wildcat option and nothing else. I really like Jeff Garcia.... he played well when he was here and knows this offense. Remember, he only left because he wanted a shot at being a starter elsewhere. I really like AJ Feeley and think the Eagles should have kept him, but I'm glad the Panthers picked him up because he deserves better. I'm really shocked no one picked up Garcia, and with Feeley gone, Garcia's a good option to have if Kolb blows his chance and McNabb is out a few games (or gets injured later on in the season, which very well may happen.) As long as Garcia's on the team I wouldn't start Vick at QB. He just looks too rusty and is better utilized as the "X" factor as I call him.

Next up on the dais is.... ME! No, NOT to play QB for the Eagles, but to explain why my predictions are so horrible. I don't know. Two seasons ago, I talked to my friend John the die hard Pats fan at half time of the Pats/Giants Super Bowl. "John, there's NO WAY THE PATRIOTS LOSE THIS GAME MY FRIEND" I predicted. In 1986, with 1 out remaining in game 6 of the Red Sox/Mets World Series, I leaned out the window of my friends apartment on Queensbury St. in Boston... 2 blocks from Fenway Park. Even though the game was in New York, it has been my childhood dream to be in Boston when one of the sports teams won a championship, and I was starting to lose my mind. "IT'S OVER....IT'S OVER....WE DID IT" I screamed down the street as others leaned out their windows screaming the same as the bottle of champagne sat ready next to the tv. Then a softly hit dribbler slowly went towards Bill Buckner and then..... My point is, my predictions suck. This past weekend, I picked the Panthers to beat the Eagles in my pool, picked Liberty to beat Parkland, and Notre Dame to beat Michigan. Luckily, USC beat OSU and the Pats BARELY beat the Bills, so not EVERY pick I made was wrong. (If you believed my picks, all I can do is to quote Otter in "Animal House": "You fu@#ed up, you trusted me!") That's why no one pays attention to my picks, and I respect them for doing so.

One other thing: I'm a jinx to have my picture taken with before a race. On June 19, 1988 at Pocono Raceway, I met and talked to several NASCAR drivers in the garage area several hours before the race. Two of the drivers posed for a picture with me: Bobby Allison and "The King" Richard Petty. Both crashed that day and Allison was almost killed. The following year I attended the IROC race at Nazareth Speedway and took the enlarged picture of Petty and me to be signed. When "The King" saw me, he ran away hysterically yelling "Don't let him near me!" Well, actually, he didn't, but I wouldn't have blamed him if he did. He graciously signed the picture, but then again, with his customary sunglasses on, I couldn't see his eyes...